Stress Management ~~ Lessons Learned From A Cat

Recently, I was adopted by a stray cat. She showed up one day, and never left. I welcomed her into mu home, and I have been reminded of certain things from having her here. Cats really know how to manage stress. Think about it….have you ever seen a cat that was perpetually stressed out? They have certain routines that help keep their stress to a minimum.

Take Time to Play Every Day: Cats have fun while exercising their bodies when they run, jump, chase after leaves, and pounce on our feet underneath a blanket. Spending time doing something we enjoy is an excellent way to manage stress levels, especially if that activity provides us with some exercise.

Stretch regularly: Have you noticed that when a cat first wakes up, she stretches before she moves on? Cats are the most flexible beings I have ever encountered. I know that when I am taking part in a stretching routine on a consistent basis, I feel a lot better, both physically and emotionally.

Spend Time in The Sun: Do you ever notice how cats will find even the tiniest patch of sun to take a nap in? Sitting in the sun can be extremely relaxing. The sun’s rays can warm your muscles and calm your mind. It also has the added benefit of Vitamin D, which is not readily available through food sources. Recent studies suggest that Vitamin D helps protect our cells from stress that can cause cancer. Of course, you don’t want to spend too much time in the sun without adequate sunscreen.

Adequate sleep: When you get the amount of sleep you need, it makes everything else in life a little bit easier. Lack of sleep can contribute to high blood pressure. Cats spend a lot of time sleeping. Do you know many cats with high blood pressure?

Receive Massage: Cats are all about getting petted. After all, that is one of the main reasons they allow us humans into their lives. Cats enjoy giving and receiving affection. For humans, petting an animal can reduce blood pressure, and has a calming affect on both us and our pets. And, like cats, when we get regular massage, our levels of stress decrease immensely.

Bathe Regularly: While cats might not necessarily like being immersed in a tub of water, they do bathe regularly. For us humans, soaking in a bath can help reduce stress. Immersing yourself in a tub of warm water can help pull tension from your muscles. Add some bath salts, essential oils, or Epsom Salts for an added benefit.

Cats are very wise animals. If we all took a little bit of advice from them, we would all be better off.

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Linda Zukowski, LMBT #5951, has been serving the women of Raleigh, NC since 2006, providing integrative Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Postpartum, and other massage therapy modalities to women just like you. For more about Linda, click here.